Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 02: Mr. TSG Bhasker, Chairman, Campaign Committee, ANTCC, has submitted a representation to the Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing & Urban Affairs, who are presently visiting the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, urging their immediate intervention into the unprecedented rise in airfares and reduction in the number of flights to and from the Islands.
In his representation, Mr. Bhasker highlighted that airfares between the Islands and major mainland destinations such as Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam and Delhi are reaching Rs. 15,000– Rs. 25,000 one way, with fares in some cases costing more than round-trip travel to international destinations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Maldives and Singapore.
He pointed out that the issue has severely affected ordinary families, poor patients travelling for specialized medical treatment, students studying in mainland institutions, tourists, businesses and the e-commerce sector.
He particularly highlighted the unbearable cost faced by stretcher patients, which reportedly reach Rs. 4.5 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh.
He urged the Parliamentary Standing Committee members to take up the matter with the Minister of Civil Aviation and raise it in Parliament, stressing that air connectivity to the Islands is not a luxury but an essential lifeline for the people of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, who have no road or rail connectivity to the mainland.
Mr. Bhasker expressed hope that the visiting Parliamentary Committee would take serious note of the issue and recommend concrete measures to ensure affordable, reliable and adequate air connectivity for the Islanders.
